Who We Are

The Transcending Trauma Project consists of approximately 25 individuals across Philadelphia from Council for Relationships, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, clinicians, licensed social workers, and academics from Jefferson, UPenn, Bryn Mawr, Drexel, Penn State, Temple, and Villanova. Additional people have contributed their time and energy, and several masters and doctoral students have used the data from The Transcending Trauma Project in their respective graduate theses.

Bea Hollander-Goldfein: Ph.D., LMFT, Director of Post Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Council for Relationships; psychologist and marriage and family therapist. Clinical interests include the process of therapeutic change and how family dynamics influence the impact of trauma.

Nancy Isserman: Ph.D., MSW, Director of Operation Home and Healing: Services for Veterans and Families at the Council for Relationships; Research and Evaluation Coordinator for the Philadelphia Healthy Marriage Project (2007-2010).

Jonathan Cohn: BS, member of the TTP research team – primary focus developing the website and other online media for TTP; founder of CHiRP (canine and health research project); moderator for online book club. TTP thanks Jonathan for his donation that made the creation of these webpages possible.

Jennifer Goldenberg: Ph.D., LCSW; member of the TTP research team since 1993, has a private practice in Bangor, Maine, works with adult survivors of childhood trauma, and teaches graduate-level courses in trauma theory and treatment, research, and ethics in the Department of Social Work, University of Maine.

Hannah Kliger: Ph.D., LCSW, LMFT, CST, professor at Pennsylvania State University, Abington College, member of the TTP research team; licensed clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist; certified AASECT sex therapist; currently training at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia.

Judy Levin: MSW, LCSW, BCD; interviewer, analyst and researcher for the TTP for over 15 years; now retired from a 30 year career in Clinical Social Work, having worked in hospitals, family service and community mental health agencies.

Emilie Passow: Ph.D., Co-Director of the Certificate Program in Medical Humanities at Drexel University, member of the TTP research team, lectures widely on topics in Judaic Studies, American Jewish Writers and Holocaust related topics.

Lucy Raizman: MSW, LCSW, LMFT, CST, since 1992 TTP interviewer, research associate and contributor to TTP publications; senior staff therapist with Council for Relationships with more than 20 years’ experience; works with individuals, couples and as a sex therapist with a special interest in mind-body oriented approaches to healing attachment-based injuries and relational traumas.

Peggy Roth: MSEd, LMFT. TTP interviewer, researcher, and analyst since 1994; licensed senior staff therapist and supervisor; works with individuals and couples focusing on problems of anxiety, trauma, and depression, using EMDR extensively when appropriate.

Dorothy Scamagas: MS, member of the TTP for two years; Psychologist/Clinical Specialist working with reactions and conditions related to stress and trauma. Developed a therapeutic intervention to address unconscious dynamics impacting current life negatively.

Carol Targum: MA, MSW, MFT, TTP interviewer and research team member. Therapist at Council for Relationships for x years, a graduate of the Council’s Post Graduate Certification in Marriage and Family Therapy, approved AAMFT supervisor.

Ann Weiss: Ph.D., Director, and Founder of non-profit educational foundation, Eyes from the Ashes; researches and personalizes history of the Holocaust to help others learn to care and to act. Specializing in the field of Life Narratives & Life Studies, international speaker, and part of TTP project since its inception as an interviewer and research member.